Display device



Ma 16, 1939. NE I 2,158,343

DISPLAY DEVICE File d Jan. 10, 1938 [nave/2,2 50% I Frau-67L Wggflff Patented May 16, 1939 UN [TED STATES PATENT OFFICE poration oflllinois Application January 10, 1938, serial No. 184.1 11

5 Claims.

This invention relates to display devices, and is particularly concerned with improvements in illuminated display signs of the general char acter disclosed in the co=pending application,

SenNo. 130,507, filed March 12, 1937.

The co-pending application discloses a sign structure comprising a container or box'having a display opening which is closed by a translucent panel, for example, a glass panel. The glass panel is mounted in a holder or carrier which comprises two channel members attached at 01')- posite sides to its edges and connected by cross members extending across the surface of the panel and spaced somewhat from it. These cross I Z members are provided for holding removable signs or characters. The holder or carrier protects the panel, facilitates the mounting thereof, and provides numerous other advantages, all as pointed p out in detail in the co-pending application.

The present invention constitutes an improvement on such a structure. It provides a carrier or holder for the glass panel which embraces all sides of the panel, thusprotecting all its edges.

- This new holder or carrier may be adapted for tended for use with a sign which also has an improved box or container frame. In the old boxes for such illuminated signs it was necessary toprovide a frontal channel running circumferentially along the display opening for receivingthe glass panel with or without such a holder or carrier as described in the co-pending application.

The structure disclosed herein is adapted foruse with a box having a display opening which is merely defined by a circumferential edgeor ledge. The panel or panel sections of the new structure may be attached to this ledge by virtiie' of- H' channel members which constitute part of tl'ie' 1 new panelcarrier.

Some of the advantages gained b' yf this new structure are: The structure of the display box itself may be made simpler and accordingly cheaper. The glass panel is better protected than heretofore, and the steps of inserting it are greatly facilitated. The work of mounting is rendered safer than in previously known structures. V

The above noted advantagesand other objects 0:" and features of theinventio'n not yet particularly mentioned will be brought out in the-de' tailed description rendered below with reference tothe accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is'a partial-plan view of one form'of a sign made according totheinvention;-with' parts use with existing signs, but is particularly inbroken away and in section so as to illustrate details; v Fig. 2ill'u s'trates asec on of the structure taken .2 lih 6f F g. 1;

Fig. 3 represents, on an enlarged scale, an ass'embly of a panel section withitsnew cafrier; Fig. 4 is a partial view of a modification, and Fig. 5 shows another modification in the same manner as the one shown in Fig. 4.

Some of the details in the drawing are shown on an enlarged and distorted scale'rla'tivel to other parts so as to support the understanding of the invention. Referring now to the drawing, wherein like parts are identified by like reference numerals, H indicates generally the box of a display sign having a rear wall l2 (Fig. 2) and flQl'ltti openings l3 and I4 These two frontal openings" are separated interiorly by a crhss plate 15 (Fig. 2) which carries a strip-like rhembfer It. The upper frontal opening [3, as shown in Fig. 1, is thus exteriorly defined at the upper sw ar the Sign by the ledge Hand at the bottom by the member 16' forming acorrespondin'g ledge. other ledge is indicated on the left side at l8, and of course a correspbn-ding ledge is provided on the opposite right side of the'sig'n The frontal opening i3 is thus defined eircumreie'rjtiany by a continuous edge or ledge; The bottom qf the" cross strip I6 would define the H1 56! ledge of the next lower frontal opening f4, and the continuation of th'e'ld ge [8 would constitute the left nd oftheopening M. The Sign m have a number of superimposed frontal openings, such as l3 and M, or only one display opening, each having such a frontal edge orledge'. As com ared with previous strufituls, this is advantage because previously it was necessary of provide a circumferential frbntai hanfrin fin nserved as a holder or receptacle fdrthe glass panel and any holder structure for it, as dis closed, for example, in the previously noted e6 pending application.

Inside of the ox or in each impairme t thereof may be suitable provisions for media, mg n uminau'ng means, such as]; the members ginand 2| carrying lamps, as 22f, 23 and ,24. These supports may, of course, assume a diife'r-' ent shape, if desired.

The glass display panel m y em sections or it may be in one piece. It'is in eitherjcase vided with a homer or carrier such as indicated inFig. 3. It'is-assurned" F g- 1 that, sectional glass panels are used, and the pameuiar section shown in Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale is the second of the panel 25.

section, also indicated in Fig. 1 at 25. The carrier and holder for this glass panel is shown, not only on an enlarged scale, but parts of it are also on. a distorted scale, in order to bring out the details more clearly. It comprises an upper and a lower channel member which is H-shaped in cross section, as indicated at 26 and 21, respectively. These channel members are in reality much smaller, as compared with other portions, The upper forked end of the holder member 26 is longer than its corresponding lower forked end which attaches to the upper edge of the glass panel 25. Conversely, the upper forked end of the member 21, which engages the lower edge of the glass panel 25, is longer than its lower forked end. The reason for this will be presently explained. These H-shaped channel members 26 and 2'! are in this embodiment held together by strips 28-29 which may be welded at their ends to the H members at points 30, 3!, 32 and 33. Such strips as 28 and 29 may be only provided at the front side or in back of the panel, or there may be a pair of such strips at either end of the panel, the latter structure being indicated in Fig. 3 at the right side thereof, showing a strip 29 at the front and a companion strip 34 on the other side of the glass panel 25. The glass panel is thus marginally completely enclosed by its frame or carrier. Cross members, such as 35 and 36, may be attached to the connecting strips 28 and 29 in any suitable manner. They may be Welded to these strips or, in lieu of welding, they may be made removable with reference to the carrier strips 28 and 29 in a manner such as disclosed in the previously mentioned co-pending application. The letters or characters which are to be displayed in the front of the glass panel may be attached to these cross members 35-35.

Referring again to Fig. l, the glass panel 25 with its carrier, comprising the members 29, 21, 28 and 29 and the cross members 35-36, is shown in place. Another panel 25', having an identical holder or carrier with .its individual portions marked in corresponding primed reference numerals, is shown in place in the sign at the left Other similarly constructed panels may be attached alongside and adjacent the panel 25 so as to cover up the display opening l3. Each panel is inserted in place by firs taking the panel with its carrier and lifting it with reference to the display opening of the sign so that the corresponding ledge, such as the ledge l1, first enters the long upper forked end of the H-shaped carrier member 26, thus lifting the panel and its carrier, and particularly its lower H-shaped carrier member 21 over the bottom ledge l5 of the display opening, whereupon the panel and its carrier may be dropped into place into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the bottom ledge I6 entered into the lower forked end of the H member 21. The channel members, such as 26-21, and also the corresponding channel members shown in other embodiments, may be of different width, if desired, or they may be made from the same stock and may accordingly be of the same width. As already remarked previously, these H members are shown on a larger scale than other portions of the structure in order to clearly indicate their shape. A sign of this type, as shown in Fig. 1, may be quite large, several feet high and of considerable length and depth. The ledges or edges, such as I6, ll, [8, [9, would, of course, be considerably larger in an actual installation than the H members of the carriers.

After the display opening of the sign is thus closed with the single panel or with a panel comprising sections, such as described, fully in place, the cross members 35-36, 35'-36' and the corresponding cross members of the additional panels, will form substantially continuous cross members or bars for supporting letters or characters forming a desired message. For the sake of convenience, we have indicated a message which may be displayed on the sign, consisting of figures and letters and forming, for example, the message 3 IN 1. Each of the characters or letters such as 40 (numeral 1 in Fig. 1) may be provided with peripheral flanges having inclined notches for engagement with these cross members, but these letters may also be of a different structure, as indicated, for example, in the copending application; e. g., the cross members may be channel-shaped so as to accommodate characters or letters having top and bottom lugs or the ike.

In the embodiment thus far described the carrier frame may be prefabricated and the glass panel may be inserted by sliding it sideways between the strips, such as 29-34, Fig. 3, and the corresponding strips at the other side of the carrier, inserting it so that it is firmly held marginally by the carrier, as indicated. Channel-shaped connecting strips may be used, if desired, in lieu of the strips, such as 28-29. Such a structure is indicated in Fig. 4, wherein 4l-42 indicate the upper and lower H-shaped carrier members, respectively, and 43 indicates a channel-shaped member closing the corresponding end of the panel carrier. The panel itself is indicated in this case at 44. Only the right end of a panel section and its carrier is shown in this figure. The corresponding left end may, of course, be of similar structure. The disadvantage of this particular embodiment resides in the necessity of doing assembly work after inserting the glass panel into the carrier. The cross members for receiving the sign characters are omitted in this figure.

Another embodiment is shown in Fig. 5, wherein the lower H-shaped carrier member 45 is shown detachable. The upper H-shaped carrier member 46 is provided at either end with a de pending connecting member 41 which may be either a channel member, such as indicated in Fig. 4, or there may be two oppositely located strips each welded at its upper end to the H- shaped member 46. In either case the lower end of the member or members 41 is provided with extensions such as shown at 48-49, which project from the plane of the drawing and. depend downwardly, accommodating the H- shaped member 45 at the end thereof. Each of these ears or extensions may then be attached to the H-shaped member 45 by a threaded connection such as 50, or may be secured in any other suitable manner. The panel in this particular embodiment is indicated at 5|. The carrier frame, according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, may be completely prefabricated, one pre-assembled portion consisting of the H member 46 with its depending members 41, or their equivalent, one at either end thereof. The panel 5| is then inserted, and the H member 45 is put in place, embracing the lower edge of panel 5| and closing the entire assembly. The assembly is completed by putting screws, such as 50, in place so as to attach the extensions 48 and 49 firmly to the ends of the H member 45. If desired, the connecting members, such as 41, may be removable with respect to the upper as well as to the lower H channel. It is merely necessary to provide for a connection, such as shown in Fig. 5, at either end of such connecting member.

Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claims, wherein I have defined what is considered new and desired to have protected by Letters Patent of the United States.

What is claimed is:

1. In a display sign, a display panel, a carrier therefor which comprises an upper and a lower channel member H-shaped in cross section, carrier means for connecting said channel members marginally of said panel, cross members connecting said carrier means, and character means removably attached to said cross members.

2. In a display sign, the combination of a glass panel with a carrier, comprising channel members marginally attached to said glass panel, two of said channel members being H- shaped in cross section and disposed opposite each other, and cross bars connecting the remaining channel members and disposed in parallel with said H-shaped channel members.

3. A display sign, comprising a display opening defined by a substantially continuous circumferential edge, a glass panel for insertion into said opening, a carrier frame for said glass panel comprising channel members forking away from said panel for engagement with part of said circumferential edge to support said panel in said display opening, cross members attached to said carrier frame and extending in spaced relation to the surface of said panel and substantially parallel thereto, and characters removably attached to said cross members for display against said panel.

4. In combination, a glass display panel, a carrier frame for said panel comprising a supporting channel member forking away from the panel and forming a channel substantially parallel with the edge thereof, cross members attached to said carrier frame, character means removably attached to said cross members for display against said panel, and mounting means embraced by said supporting channel member.

5. In combination, a glass display panel, a carrier frame for said panel comprising a removable supporting channel member forking away from the panel and forming a channel substantially alongside the edge thereof, cross members secured on said carrier frame, character means removably attached to said cross members for display against said panel, and mounting means for holding said panel and said frame thereof, said mounting means comprising an edged member entering said forked supporting channel member.

ERWIN WAGNER. 

